Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 08/02) - The proposed Inuvik family centre, which would include a year round pool, ran into some choppy waters Monday.

About 40 people attended a public meeting at council chambers to discuss the centre, which would cost an estimated $6 million.

Family centre plebiscite Date: Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Inuvik Centennial Library Question: Are you in favour of the Town of Inuvik borrowing up to $5 million to finance the construction of a proposed family centre?

On Feb. 18 Inuvik ratepayers will vote in a plebiscite on whether or not to allow the town to borrow up to $5 million to finance construction of the centre. Plans are to fund-raise the other $1 million needed.

While there seemed to be general support among those present for building a year round pool, the proposed centre sparked concerns and, from some, outright opposition.

A strong opponent was Coun. Vince Sharpe, who said he favoured the idea of a pool, but that the town should build one attached to the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex. He said the other amenities proposed in the family centre -- including a fitness centre, squash courts, kids play area, aerobics area, youth activity centre and early childhood development centre -- should be scrapped to cut costs.

"What we've got here is a gold-plated pool, and I don't think we can afford it. I know we can't afford it," Sharpe asserted.

"If this is the concept that we're going for, I'm voting against it."

Annual operating costs for the centre are estimated at $400,000, and revenues are expected to bring in around $200,000.

If the town takes out a debenture for $5 million, it proposes to make annual payments on it of $500,000 annually for 20 years.

A debenture is a bond-type debt instrument often used by municipalities to raise capital for infrastructure projects.

To make the debenture payments the town, which recently paid off all its debentures and is debt free, could allocate $200,000 annually from its bingos and lotteries licence fees. As well, beginning next year the town is to receive an additional $300,000 in block funding from MACA.

Reference was also made to the fact that land sales and building and development have increased in the last few years in the community, resulting in higher tax revenue.

Cost concerns

Several people expressed concerns about the proposed construction and operating costs. Among them were councillors Don Craik and Clarence Wood.

"The research was not done," Wood said, pointing out he's still opposed to the project.

"Nobody can tell me this day what this thing is going to cost."

Mayor Peter Clarkson, who's involved in a committee formed last spring to look into the possibility of a family centre, explained the costs are based on concept drawings. These drawings were based on what people expressed interest in having in the centre.

"We pulled as much information as we could within the time frame, but until we get the building fully designed -- and in some cases, operational -- we're not going to know what the exact costs are," Clarkson said.

"Thought was given to how can we make this as economically justifiable as possible, how can we reduce the operating costs."

Clarkson said town council did not wish to spend a lot of money to create more detailed plans until, and if, the community gave its support for the project.

The mayor pointed out having the family centre next to the rec complex will allow for some economies of scale in terms of staffing and also in equipment. For example, the ice chillers and compressors used to keep the pad frozen at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex can also be used for the family centre.

As well, the family centre is designed so that only one gatekeeper is needed.

Coun. Denny Rodgers said that even if the centre runs an annual operating deficit of $400,000, instead of the anticipated $200,000, that this wouldn't necessarily pose a big problem.

"Four hundred thousand dollars is not a far cry," Rodgers said. "It's not a lot of money when you're looking at what you're getting for it."

Health benefits

A number of people, including health care professionals, extolled the potential health benefits of having a year round pool, especially for those needing to exercise.

Deputy mayor Arlene Hansen, who's also chair of the leisure services committee, said the centre would add to the recreation within the community.

"The more recreation you have available, through walking trails or physical activities or boating, the less stress and the happier the community," Hansen said.

"It's the right time for us."